AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kristie's sweet smiling face fills my mind and my fingers twist in the sheet beneath me.
Grief slams into me. It’s as potent and toxic as it was the first day I discovered she was gone.
Sure, Dad lied to me and told me she’d gone to be with our mother.
But I knew it was bullshit.
Mom wasn’t out there living a happy life without us. She just wasn’t.
And I knew that Kristie wasn’t going to be either.
Where she’d gone was so much worse than that.
So much worse than the shitty life I’d spent years trying to protect her from.
She was alone now without anyone looking out for her.
The thought terrified me so much more than anything that I’d endured.
And all I’ve been able to do since is just pray that she managed to find a way out.
“Little dove, it’s ready,” JD calls, dragging me from my thoughts.
Blowing out a slow breath, hoping my pain will go with it, I push to my feet and walk toward the bathroom door.
Steam billows from the gap, letting me know that it’s hot enough. My muscles ache, more than ready to be submerged in the almost-boiling water.
I push through the door, peeling my tank—the only thing I’m now wearing—up my body before turning to the tub.
My eyes widen and my chin drops.
“I thought you were running me a bath,” I sneer with narrowed eyes.
“I was. But the temptation to join you was too strong,” he confesses, resting his arms along the side of the tub and spreading his legs, inviting me to sit between them.
I stand there staring at him, making it look like it’s a decision I need to think about.
He looks too fucking hot sitting there with all his ink on display, surrounded by white fluffy bubbles.
And plus, he’s the only one I haven’t had a bath with yet. It would only be fair to take him for a test ride too, right?
“You’re a pain in my ass, Julian Dempsey,” I mutter, taking a step closer to him.
His eyes sparkle with happiness, knowing that he’s sucked me in.
“Maybe, still love me though, don’t you?” With those words, a little unease flickers in his dark gaze. A little vulnerability that I’m sure he hates showing, even to me.
“Yeah,” I muse. “Apparently that’s unconditional. My heart doesn’t care how much of a selfish prick you can be.”
“Oh, ouch,” he gasps, covering his heart with his hand.
“Oh, come off it. I’ve called you worse. And,” I add. “You know you were wrong. That’s why I’m so pissed off. You should have known better, Julian.”
I’m not sure words hold as much weight as it could, seeing as I say the words as I step naked into the tub.
“I’m sorry, little dove. All I could think about was keeping you safe.”
“I’d have been safe with you all. I have no issues with hanging out in basements, you of all people should know this.”
